Life before death: improving palliative care for older Australians

The notion that the problems associated with modern death and dying can be solved simply by allowing more Australians to die at home is an oversimplification. Moreover, the myth that most people want to die at home, but don’t, has also unhelpfully reinforced the popular fear that grim, distressing, painful and undignified “natural death” in hospital should be avoided at all costs. These myths undermine the broader benefits that good palliative care can provide for patients.